Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus

Osmanthus by Ormonde Jayne is one of the nicest and  friendliest fragrances I know, and I mean it in the most positive way. My personal favorite osmanthus note in perfume is actually Serge Lutens Nuit de Cellophane which is a bit more diva-like, but this Ormonde Jayne certainly comes close, especially in the sweet late drydown.

Osmanthus opens with fruity sparks, a hint of the tropics and a big happy smile. Its sunny disposition can uplift the mood of the crankiest blogger and brighten up a gloomy winter day. There's a moderate amount of sweetness that never crosses the boundaries of good taste and a young at heart air that comes from the lovely floral notes. I wish the heart was more robust and the descent into a somewhat pale creamy drydown wouldn't be so rapid, but I'm quite fond of the soft scent that lingers between my skin and my clothes for the rest of the day. If I spray a little before bed, I wake up to just a hint of a jasminy sandalwood, which is a great way to start my day.

Osmanthus would probably suit someone a bit more easygoing than me. I enjoy it a lot, but unlike the more assertive Ormonde Jayne perfumes (Ta'if and Tolu) I'm not the right person for it other than occasionally. Maybe what I actually need are the bath and body products in this range- The bath oil sounds heavenly the more I think about it (and I bet it would layer perfectly with Nuit de Cellophane, with apologies to Uncle Serge).

Osmanthus  (£68.00, 50 ml EDP or £54.00 for 4x10ml travel sprays) and the rest of the Ormonde Jayne line is available from the London boutique and online at ormondejayne.com. The sample set I bought (£35.00, free shipping worldwide) has proven to be an excellent investment.

Image: Ladies Home Journal, 1958 from myvintagevogue.com